Apparatus for applying imitation graining to burial casket cover panels



Sept. 14, 1954 Filed April 18, 1951 Fig, l

E. M. SHELTON APPARATUS FOR APPLYING IMITATIQN GRAINING TO BURIAL CASKET COVER PANELS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Eugene M. She/fan INVENTOR.

Sept. 14, 1954 Filed April 18, l

E. M. APPARATUS FOR APPLY TO BURIAL CASKE Fig, 3

G IMITATION GRAINING T COVER PANELS 2 Sheets-$heet 2 Eugene M. She/Ion INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 14, 1954 OFFICE APPARATUS FOR APPLYING IMITATION GRAINING T BURIAL CASKET COVER PANELS Eugene M. Shelton, Glendale, Calif. Application April 18, 1951, Serial No. 221,559

2 Claims. 1

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for applying imitation wood graining to burial casket cover panels by transferring a pattern onto the panels.

Casket cover panels, as is well known, are segmental in cross-section with a top of arcuate shape. It is the practice to provide the top of such'panels with artificial wood graining by hand which requires time and the services of highly skilled artisans which renders such fractice expensive.

Having the foregoing in mind, it is the primary object of my invention to provide a simply constructed, labor-saving apparatus for inexpensively applying such graining quickly to such panels uniformly on each panel.

Another object is to transfer to such panels from a pattern wood graining in substantially one operation on the entire surface of the panel to expedite the operation.

Other and subordinate objects, within the purview of my invention, together with the precise nature of my improvements, will be readily understood when the succeeding description and claims are read with reference to the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification.

In said drawings:

Figure l is a view in plan, partly broken away and shown in section, of my improved apparatus in the preferred embodiment thereof;

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation partly broken away and shown in section;

Figure 3 is a view in end elevation;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in vertical section drawn to a larger scale and illustrating one of the roller operating levers and the means for mounting the roller thereto;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in transverse section taken on the line 55 of Figure 4 and drawn to a further enlarged scale;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in perspective of one of the roller operating levers and the means for mounting the roller thereon, drawn approximately to the same scale as Figure 5; and

Figure '7 is a view in perspective of one of the spring urged bearing members for the roller.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, according to my invention, as illustrated, apparatus is provided for the purpose specified comprising an oblong, rectangular table, designated, as a unit, by the numeral I, and which includes a flat top 2 supported by corner legs 3, the top 2 being of substantially the same size as that of the conventional casket cover panel I. Upstanding corner pegs 5 on the top 2 fitting in the corners of the usual bottom flange 6 of such cover panels 1 provide for fitting a cover panel I on said top 2, arcuate top 8 uppermost, with said panel held against edgewise play. Transverse brace rails 9 at the ends of the table I connect the legs 2 in end pairs adjacent to the lower ends of the pairs of legs and are secured in place by screws III, or the like. Longitudinal front and rear tie rails I I, I2 connect the legs 3 adjacent the lower ends thereof at what constitutes the front and rear sides of the table I, and are held in place by screws I3.

A pair of upright end levers I4, for operating a printing roller I5, presently described, are

pivoted at lower ends thereof on a horizontal rod I6 extending longitudinally of the table I in the longitudinal center thereof with ends extending through the brace rails 9 and provided with retaining cotter pins I1 therein. As will be seen, the levers I4 are pivoted on the rod I6 at the center of the arc of the top 8 of the cover panel 1 for swinging forwardly and rearwardly of the table I, back and forth. Upper and lower horizontal tie bars I8 connect the levers I4 between the table top 2 and the end rails 9 to stabilize said levers against relative play. A laterally projecting stop I9 on one end of the table I at the rear side thereof limits swinging of one of said levers I4 rearwardly by engagement with said one lever.

The printing roller I5 is gelatin faced, as at 20, and rotatably mounted between the upper ends of the levers I4 above the top 2 for rolling engagement with the top 8 of the cover panel 1, and by yielding mounting means as follows. Elongated cap members 2| are hinged at one *side thereof, as at 22, to one side of the levers I4 to swing into and out of vertical alignment with said levers. Coacting latches on the opposite sides of said levers I4 and cap members 2| provide for retaining said cap members in alignment and comprise a pair of interfitting, bolt receiving keepers 23, 24 secured by screws 25 to said levers I4 and cap members 2|, respectively. Latch bolts 26 for insertion through the keepers 23, 24 are connected against loss to thelevers I4 by chains 21.

The cap members 2| and the levers I4 are provided with mating longitudinal slots 28, 29, re-

spectively, aligned in the aligned and latched positions of said cap members. U-shaped bearing members 30 slidably straddling the levers I4 and cap members 2| with cross webs 3| traversing the slots 28, 29 for receiving therebetween axial end stubs 32 on the printing roller are slidably connected to said levers M and cap members 2! in a manner presently explained.

Coil springs 33, 34 in the slots 28, 23, respectively,

urge the webs 3| into engagement with the studs ing against the springs 34 provide for variably tensioning the described mounting to prevent overrunning of the roller I5 and provide for taking up wear on said roller 35 and the studs 32. Screws 35 in the levers l4 and cap members 2i and extending through slots 36 in the bearin members 30 provide for the requisite sliding movement of said members in taking up wear. The cap members 21, when unlatched, may be swung on the hinges 22, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4, clear of the levers It, out of align ment therewith, for removal and replacement of the studs 32 to remove and replace the roller 15.

Manual operating means for the levers i i are provided comprising a pair of upright arms, associated with the levers M, respectively, and inclining upwardly and rearwardly from the lower ends of said levers M, the upper ends of said arms 37 being cross-connected by hand bar 33. Upper and lower cross plate 39, 49 connect each lever 40 with its associated arm 39 and are attached in place by screws 4!. Upper and lower horizontal tie bars d2, 93 connect the arms 37 in the rear thereof between the top 2 and the transverse rails 3. As shown in dotted lines in 1 Figure 3, the arms 3! are swingable by the hand bar 38 rearwardly and forwardly of the table I to correspondingly swing the levers l4 and carry the trimming roller [5 back and forth across the top 8 of the cover panel 7. The upper tie bar 42 of the arms 37 engages the legs 3 at the rear side of the table I to limit rearward swinging of said arms for correspondingly limiting rearward swinging of the levers l4 and rearward movement of the printing roller 15.

The manner in which the apparatus operates will be readily understood from the following. The cap members 2! are unlatched and swun clear of the levers l4 so that the trimming roller I5 may be removed. The printing roller 15 is then rolled onto a matrix plate, not shown, having the graining pattern etched thereon and properly covered with paint, or the like material,

so that the pattern is rolled onto the printing roller 15. With the levers l5 swung into their rearward limit of movement, shown in dotted lines in Figure 3, the printing roller i5 is replaced, in a manner which will be clear. The operator then grasps the hand bar 38 and swings the arms 31 forwardly, thereby swinging the levers l4 into their forward limit of movement carries the printing roller 15 across the top 8,

of the panel 1 in rolling, spring-pressed engagement therewith so that the pattern is transferred onto the top 8 of the panel 1 by printing, and in one operation.

The foregoing will, it is believed, suffice to impart a clear understanding of my invention, without further explanation.

Manifestly, the invention, as described,is susceptible of modification, without departing from the inventive concept, and right is herein reserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. Apparatus for transferring a wood grain pattern onto the arcuate top of a rectangular panel comprising a rectangular table top for supporting said panel and having corner legs at opposite sides and ends thereof, cross bars connecting the legs at opposite ends of the table, a pair of upright levers at opposite ends of the table top having lower ends pivoted to said cross bars for swinging of said levers in opposite directions transversely of said table top, said levers having upper ends rising above said table top,

a transfer roller journaled in said upper ends of the levers for rolling contact with the top of the panel supported on said table top, a pair of lever operating arms at opposite ends of the table top having lower ends pivoted on the pivots of said levers for swinging of said arms in opposite directions transversely of said table top, said arms inclining upwardly away from said levers with upper ends rising above said table top, a

Y handle bar connected to the upper ends of said arms for swinging said arms in unison, cross connections between said arms and levers for causing swinging of said arms to swing the levers, and a horizontal bar connecting said arms below said table top and engaging the legs at one side of the table top to limit swinging of said arms in one direction for correspondingly limiting swinging of said levers.

2, Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising pegs on said table for engaging said panel to retain the same on said table.

References Cited in the file ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 110,623 Bement Jan. 3, 1871 620,622 Von Auw Mar. 7, 1899 1,593,394 Dunn July 20, 1926 2,047,718 Von Webern July 14, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 17,164 Great Britain Aug. 12, 1909 "arm 

